A step-by-step guide to creating your outdoor room

Transcription

1 A step-by-step guide to creating your outdoor room

2 By choosing Arbordeck you have selected a complete decking system, manufactured by a British company with over 170 years experience in the timber trade, and an established reputation for industry knowledge, product quality and service. With Arbordeck you will benefit from our extensive research into the best decking products, the finest Northern European timber and the best of British manufacturing processes. And, because we are members of associations established to provide you, the customer, with unrivalled peace of mind, you can be assured of a first class product and service Arbordeck softwood components are manufactured from pressure treated timber, which has been impregnated with the environmentally advanced Osmose Naturewood wood preservative. This treatment gives long term protection against fungal and insect attack, for both in and out-of-ground contact applications. Maintaining Arbordeck Maintenance of your Arbordeck components couldn t be simpler. A range of brush applied products is available to ensure the very best care in the construction and subsequent maintenance of your deck. End-grain preservative - Available in 1 litre cans, End-grain preservative must be applied to any cuts or notches made to the timber during construction to maintain the integrity of the preservative treatment.

3 Building a simple deck is easily accomplished by any competent DIY enthusiast BEFORE YOU START When using power tools we recommend the use of safety glasses and a dust mask. Always wear gloves to protect your hands from rough timber. PREPARING THE SITE Using the plans mark out the site with pegs and string. Clear the site of vegetation including turf. Lay a weed supressant membrane. Cover the area with 50mm depth of gravel. Determine the position of the support posts. Dig a hole 600mm deep and 600mm in diameter. Fill with concrete and leave to set for at least 24 hours. Mark out the position of the ledger on the wall. The finished deck surface must be at least two brick courses below the damp proof course. After cutting to length attach the ledger to the wall with suitable bolts. A 10mm gap should be spaced between the wall and the ledger to ensure drainage Ensure that all cut surfaces are brushed with End-grain preservative. Apply several coats, following the manufacturers instructions. If there is not room below your damp proof course to build a deck without excavation, consider a free standing deck, leaving room between the house and deck to prevent water standing or splashing against the wall. ATTACHING THE JOISTS After marking the position of the joists at 400mm centres on the side beams, attach the joist hangers with galvanised nails. Use an offcut from a joist as a guide. Using temporary braces for support attach the beams to the ledger. Allow for some adjustment to ensure the deck will be square and level. Attach the end beam using landscape screws Check the beams are square using a 3, 4, 5 square, reinforcing all the corners using a framing anchor. Adjust the height of the side beams to allow a slight fall in the deck away from the house. This will ensure the deck drains correctly. Accurately position the post bases and attach using expanding bolts. Attach the posts to the beams using coach bolts or landscape screws. Where possible make sure the original treated end of the post is on the ground and attach using galvanised or stainless steel screws. 03

4 After treating the cut ends of the joist with End-grain, nail in place into the joist hanger. If you are using the contemporary handrail system you can now start to fix your deck boards. ATTACHING THE NEWEL POSTS Calculate the height of the handrail by placing all the components on the newel post. Mark the height of the top of the joist. If the deck is greater than 600mm from the ground the handrail must be at least 1100mm from the deck surface. We would advise consulting a qualified deck builder for advice on high level decks. Ensure the newel post is vertical and attach it to the inside of the beams with landscape screws or coach bolts. Repeat this process around the inside perimeter of the deck, spacing the posts at a maximum of 1800mm centres. LAYING THE DECK BOARDS After carefully marking the boards notch out positions for the posts and treat with Endgrain When notching the boards leave a 2-3mm gap around the post to allow for movement of the boards. Attach the first two boards by screwing through the surface using galvanised or stainless steel deck screws. For aesthetic benefit our deck boards are fixed with deck clips. Nail the deck clips to the leading edge of the board. Space the deck clips about 50mm from each joist. Using suitable deck screws is also a good way of fixing your deck. Fix your screws 25% in from each side of the boards and use 2 screws per board, per joist. For speed of fitting prepare several boards in advance. Push each board against the previously fixed board. The deck clips should fit under the fixed board. They should give a minimum of 3mm gap between the boards Skew screw through the side of the deck board to attach the board to each joist. If necessary pre-drill at the ends of the boards to prevent splitting. Once all the boards are fixed, determine the position of the edge of the deck. Attach a baton as a temporary guide line. Using the guide line trim the excess board with a circular saw. Remove the guide baton. Don't forget to brush the cut ends with Endgrain preservative. ATTACHING THE SPINDLES AND HANDRAIL Using a tape, measure the distance between the newels on the handrail and cut to length. 04

5 Starting from the centre mark the position of the spindles on the handrail. For easier fitting start the screws in position on the rail before attaching the spindles. Use a spacer to ensure that the spindles are evenly spread. The maximum gap between the spindles must be no more than 100mm. Lay the spindles flat and attach the bottom rail using the galvanised or stainless steel screws. Fix the brackets using the screws provided. Use supports to help ensure the rail is level. Make sure there is sufficient space to fit the bottom angle brackets. Ensure the gap between the deckboard and base rail is no greater than 100mm To prevent the top bracket being seen, fix the bracket so the vertical plate is above the top rail. Gently knock the finished rail into place. Use an offcut to prevent damage to the rail. ADDING THE STEPS Mark the level along the length of the side beam. Checking for the vertical attach the furthest stair stringer. Secure the stringer by skew screwing to the beam or using a framing anchor For more detailed information consult the Timber Decking Association s Timber Decking Manual ( ) or any specialist book on deck building. Attach additional stringers to ensure the maximum distance between them is no more than 400mm on centre. Holding the newel post vertical attach using landscape screws. Remember this post is resting on the ground and so should be supported by a concrete pad and post base. Starting from the bottom fix the boards by screwing through the face into the stair stringers. The finished deck fitted with the Arbordeck classic handrail. The sides of our deck have been cloaked with deck boards. Adequate ventilation has been provided to allow the substructure to dry after rain. Our deck has a height of less than 600mm; for decks above this height, or in commercial applications we recommend you consult a qualified installer. If you are unsure at any stage of building your deck, it is advisable to seek advice from a professional. Special thanks to Darren Turner of Distinctive Landscapes for his invaluable assistance in the production of this brochure. Telephone:

6 Fitting the Arbordeck contemporary handrail Your decking queries solved The top of the handrail should be 900mm from deck level. Mark this height on the newel post. Ensuring the back rail is square with the newel post fix using two or more galvanised or stainless steel screws. Calculate the spacing required on each spindle (max 100mm) and attach using a spacer as a guide Pre-drill 2 landscape screws into position. Cut the end of the top rail at a 45 degree mitre (for a 90 degree join) and fix using screws or deck rail ties. For easier assembly consider using two newel posts on each corner Holding the post vertical and with your mark at deck level, attach the post using the landscape screws. Cut the next piece of handrail at 45 degrees, butt to the original piece and fix using screws or deck rail ties. The finished deck fitted with the Arbordeck contemporary handrail. Can decking be used next to my fishpond? Yes. The preservative used to protect Arbordeck components reacts with the timber structure to become locked in and leach resistant. Prior to installation, ensure the timber is free from surface deposits, e.g. sawdust. Can decking be used on a sloping site? Yes. One of the main advantages of decking against other landscaping materials such as a patio is that you can build a deck on a sloping site. If you build your deck on support posts you can reclaim land that was otherwise uninhabitable. I m not sure where best to site a deck in my garden - can someone advise me on various designs and costs? If you take along the measurements of your garden, Arbordeck distributors will be able to advise you of various options and costs to suit your budget. Do I need a specialist installer to build my deck? Building a deck requires basic DIY skills - if you can drill holes, tighten screws and bolts, read a spirit level and use a saw, you will have no problems. How should deck boards be fastened? Deck boards should be attached to the structure underneath using screws or ironmongery specifically for decking. Arbordeck decking products include a wide range of galvanised and stainless steel fixings for use with Osmose Naturewood treated timber. These fixings will provide a long service life to match the treated timber. Why do I need to leave a space between deck boards? As timber is a natural product, it can move slightly when exposed to the weather. This is why it is recommended that you leave a small gap between deck boards - anything from 5mm to 10mm will be sufficient. Will my deck require any maintenance? We recommend cleaning with a stiff brush to remove debris. The regular application of a protective treatment, such as SEASONITE or TEXTROL as recommended by the manufacturer, will help to protect your deck against the elements. Contact the Arbordeck office for further details. Doesn t decking become slippery in wet weather conditions? Timber is not inherently slippery, but as with any other outside surface, a build up of debris can leave a slippery surface coating. We recommend a good regular clean up of your deck to prevent problems. A suitable anti slip product or our enhanced grip deck board can be used in high traffic areas such as steps and doorways. Are there any regulations governing decking? Although there is no specific legislation for decking at the moment, any construction is covered by Building Regulations. The Timber Decking Association, the decking industry s professional body, is responsible for recommending best practices. For further details regarding regulations contact the Timber Decking Association on In addition, large or unusual deck structures may be subject to planning permission in your local area, so check with your local council. Can decking be used on a roof, eg. on top of a garage? Many people enjoy a deck-based roof garden or terrace. However, we strongly recommend that you consult a structural engineer before planning a high level or roof level deck. They will be able to determine whether or not the existing sub-structure is suitable and also if it will be able to support the proposed deck. Is timber decking harmful to the environment? No. We import all Arbordeck timber from countries and suppliers that meet UN requirements for proper management of forest resources, including vast replanting schemes. Man-made materials can cause much greater damage to the environment during production processes. There is a drain in our garden that we occasionally need to access - does this mean that we cannot have a deck? Not at all. Due to the versatility of timber decking, a hinged panel can be used to cover the drain and allow access when required. 06

7 Technical guidance for help with the preliminary design of domestic decks How much deckboard do I need? Using 120mm width deckboard METRES Using 145mm width deckboard METRES Using 140mm width deckboard METRES Using 95mm width deckboard METRES All assume the correct expansion gap has been used between each board, usually between 6 and 8mm. Please add a % for wastage & cutting, usually between 5 and 10% dependent on how you are laying your deck. Maximum joist support centres - Domestic Deck Joist Grade C16 C24 Deckboard Joist Centres (mm) 33 x 120mm x 145mm x 145mm x 120mm x 140mm x 145mm x 95mm This table shows figures for domestic decks; information for commercial decks is available on request. Figures are for deckboards fixed at 90 degrees to joists; reduce joist centres by 30% for 45 degree angles. Maximum Joist Span - Strength Class C16 - Domestic Deck Max Joist Centres (mm) Joist Size Maximum clear joist span (m) 45 x 95mm x 120mm x 145mm x 195mm x 220mm Dimensions stated show the maximum length of unsupported joists before a beam or slab is required. Commercial spans are available on request. 07

8 Timber is a natural product Arbordeck is manufactured from natural timbers and, when exposed to the elements, there may be some surface degradation, movement and checking due to the action of sunlight and moisture. This is a natural process and does not affect the strength of the timber. The colour of your decking will change naturally over time too. Some options available are to apply a regular coat of maintenance oil; completely change your decks appearance with the addition of paint and stains or alternatively leave it to weather naturally to an attractive silver-grey. How to buy Arbordeck Visit or contact us by phone, fax or to find your local stockist. Arbordeck would like to thank the following for their assistance in providing the projects photographed in this brochure: Front cover Timberscapes, Leeds 02 Top: Atkins Vause, Blackburn Bottom left: Atkins Vause, Blackburn Bottom right: Timberscapes, Leeds PEFC/ QUALITY ASSESSED FIRM NO: 0005 DeckMark is a quality assurance scheme introduced by the Timber Decking Association to confirm manufacturers compliance with Best Practice guidance and all relevant British Standards. For further information please contact the TDA on Arbordeck uses timber from forest sources that are managed to strict international environmental standards. Arbor Forest Products Ltd Barrow Road, New Holland North Lincolnshire DN19 7RR Tel Fax enquiries@arbordeck.co.uk Web The information contained within this publication is given in good faith. Every effort has been made to ensure that the guidance given is accurate and Arbordeck cannot accept any liability for loss or damage arising from the information contained herein. All photography and colours are reproduced as accurately as the print process will allow. The installers whose projects are shown in this brochure are independently owned and operated, and are neither affiliated with nor agents or representatives of Arbordeck. Arbordeck makes no representations or warranties as to, and is not responsible for, the performance, acts or omissions of these installers.